Jackson Day Race History

The 9K (5.6 mile) Jackson Day race is the oldest road race in the South and the 5th oldest road race in the U.S.A. Overall race winners from 1907-present (female winners since 1979) are listed. The race is administered by the New Orleans Track Club.

Compiled by Richard Newcomb and Chuck George.

The First Jackson Day Race, January 8, 1907

The following are exerts from an articles that appeared in the New Orleans "Picayune Newspaper" on January 9, 1907. This is an article account of the Jackson Day Race which is the oldest road race in New Orleans. The article was sent to me by club member Ron Brinkman and was found and researched by Mark Tullis, a historian for Holy Rosary Church. Thanks to both.

The article headlines read:

Cross Country Run over Lafitte Course, Young Men's Christian Association inaugurates race, along historic paths in honor of Jackson Day, Auto's lined up before YMCA.

"The cross country runners of the YMCA yesterday afternoon held the most successful race in the history of local athletes. They selected a course which was distinctly appropriate, a course which played a part in the history of Jan 8, 1815, when General Andrew Jackson was calling for all assistance he could muster to drive off the British Army which had landed some miles below the City. The pirates under Lafitte were at the garrison at the Old Spanish Fort. He sent a message to these fearless fighters asking for their aid. History tells us how the garrison ran all the way to the Jackson Square (then Place de Armes) to join the other forces under Gen. Jackson."

The article continues with:

"...and yesterday 92 years after that memorable day, 31 well trained athletes started from that same old historical fort, over the same old road racing against time to the statue of the famous fighter.

"The runners were divided into two classes with 15 of the more experienced assigned to class A and the 16 others to class B. Ten automobiles gathered at the quarters on St. Charles Street and Julia Street at 2 o'clock and the runners were taken on board. The first car forming the procession was owned by Sam Meyer and held Colonel J. D. Hill, the President of the Association, and Dr. George Kornegay the surgeon on duty during the race. J. H. Meyer, F.C. Vasser and a bugler. J. J. Charlton came next with his car and with him were Mrs. Charlton, Mrs. Ward, wife of the instructor who arranged the race and Miss Lucas. Jules Mehlig offered his car to the good cause and took on board a full number of runners. C.C. Hartwell's car with another big consignment and Guy Stone's car with five more runners followed by Sol Meyer's car with four more runners. Rufus Rogers car, two machines from an automobile company and Mr. Frank Dameron's machine with Mrs. Dameron and a number of runners brought up the last of the line.

"The buglar sounded the call forward and the machines swept down St. Charles Street to Canal and out to Magazine and across the lower side and out to the half-way house. There they turned to City Park Avenue and over to the entrance of City Park and to the long drive over to the Bridge over Bayou St. John. There they struck the Spanish Fort Road and traveled out that old neglected driveway to the historic old fortification. This long race, the longest and best managed affair of its kind ever seen in New Orleans.

"With Professor Ward as starter and E. P. Throunk as assistant, the competitors lined up inside the old fort as near the very spot where the pirates gathered as they could discover. When the pistol shot sounded, the (Class-B) men started their long run. They came down the crumbling steps to the pathway across the bridge and struck out along the bayou. The watch showed exactly 13 minutes after 3. Andrews was in front with the others close behind. There was a delay of 17 minutes before the Class-A men lined up in the same spot and headed for the same course. An automobile with Colonel Hill and Mr. Meyer, judges at the finish on board, started out at once for the finish point, which was the iron railing surrounding the statue of General Jackson. E. P. Throunk and J. H. Meyer officiated as timers. Throunk, Robert Harrell and Prof. Ward waited until the men had started and then mounted wheels and raced in to officiate as checkers on different points of the route. The motor cars followed later keeping pace with the men as nearly as possible to be ready to pickup any who might become tired and wanted a ride to the finish. There was no demand for this kind of assistance as all 31 men finished. They struck out along the levee until the shell road was reached and the toll gate was passed. There they again took to the levee into Claiborne Street following the bayou all the way. From the Claiborne Bridge, the course ran down Clairborne to Orleans and out through the market and Beauregard Square and then out Orleans Alley to the open gate of the square and the walk to the iron railing. All along the way there were hundred of people to watch the men run.

"The Class A men, more experienced athletes got a hotter pace from the start and overhauled many of the men of the B Class. F. P. Hammatt the winner of the fastest time on the course was close up in the bunch of Class B men when they reached Claiborne. He joined Williams and Hullinghorst just as they left the levee and struck the brick pavement. Hardie and Moers were close together and some little distance back. The others were well scattered. Colonel Hill was at the finish to check in the men as well as checkers from points on the course showing that every one of the 31 had covered the full course. To Hammatt was given a handsome gold medal and to every other man a silver medal. A time limit of eighty minutes was put on the course with a promise that every man who finished within that time would receive a medal, showing his ability as a cross country runner. Every man in the two classes qualified. Mr. Abbott, the 250 pound secretary of the association had the honor of bringing up the rear guard, but although he was the only man who required an hour in which to make the run, he qualified.

"The automobiles were awaiting the runners at the finish with blankets, overcoats and sweaters. The men were hurried on board and taken back to the gymnasium. They received a rub down a checked to see if they were all in good condition. There was not a single case of sickness or accident, although many of the men had never entered such a contest before. It spoke in flattering terms of the training the men have received under the direction of Prof. Ward.

"Hammatt, the champion came to New Orleans a few months ago from his home in Hyde Park near Boston. He is 20 years of age, stands six feet and weights 164 pounds. He is a plumber by trade and is at present working upon the fittings in the New Hotel Denechaud. Since his arrival here he as been a resident and member of the Association, but never before has he started in a race of this distance. Harry Hardie, who finished second in Class A, is one of the Tulane men an athlete who has already won honors as a runner. He has also never been a starter in a race of this distance, a mile being the longest course he has ever attempted. O. A. Moers, who finished third is the son of Rev. W.A. Moers of the Franklin Street Methodist Church. In the Class B, Odgen Doremus, a student of Soule's College was the smallest of the sixteen starters. He is but 18 years of age and stand 5 feet, 4-1/2 inches and weighed yesterday at 108 pounds. He has never attempted anything but indoor racing in his life. Geo. Callejo, an employee of E. C. Palmer's was also a complete novice. A great many of the starters finished strong showing that the race could have been (completed) in a much shorter time. In fact, the majority of the runners did not know the course very well and having never run it before did not know what kind of race to attempt. As a rule they simply set a healthy pace and added more speed as they neared the end.

"The entry list and time it took the athletes follows: Class A: F. P. Hammatt, 40 minutes, Harry Hardie, 41-1/2, O. A. Moers, 42, A. Cadet, 42, R. C. Acomb, 42-1/2, H. W. Aby, 42-1/2, L.L. Bailey, 44-1/4, L. Stockfleth, 44-1/2, W. H. Young, 45, M. D. Hite, 45, J. J. Schwab, 47, George Peterson, 56, A. C. Kammer, 56-1/2, Dunbar Graves, 56-1/2. Class B: Odgen Doremus, 46 minutes, Geo. F. Calleja, 46-1/2, E. J. de Orsay, 46-3/4, Leon K. Senac, 47, John A. Rousseau, 47, W. J. Givens, 48, James Coker, 51, E. B. Kemp 51, W. E. Andrews, 41-1/4, F. C. Quereus, 53, Herman Sharp, 55, R. Swanson, 55-1/4, J. V. L. Tinnet, 56, N. H. Williams 59, Albert Brewerton, 59, Geo J. Hullinghorst, 59-1/2, W. B. Abbott, 61-1/2.

"Professor Ward and the officers of the association were highly pleased with the results of the undertaking. Mr. Ward announced that every year that this race would be the anniversary celebration of the great battle by the members of the association."

The feast that followed:

"After the athletes of the YMCA who had participated in the cross country run had paid a visit to the bath department, they with the gentlemen who had furnished the automobiles carrying them to the Spanish Fort and a few specially invited quests assembled in the banquet hall of the YMCA and enjoyed a banquet and a jollification meeting. About 50 were seated at the banquet table. Mr. L. M. Ward, the efficient Physical Director of the YMCA officiated as toastmaster. After supper toasts were announced and responded to. The responses were by F. P. Hammatt, winner of the gold medal. Ogden Doremus, the first of the Class B., H. B. Kemp the oldest man in the race and Peter Swanson, the youngest at 14.

"Physical Director Ward made a talk before presenting the medals to the racers. Everyone in the race received a medal. Mr. Ward called the attention to the fact that this was the first event of its kind ever held in New Orleans and it was the intention of the YMCA management to pull off a similar event every year. The success of the race exceeded all expectations and had been pulled off without any kind of accident. Bugler Vassar of Jackson Barracks, a special invited guest played several bugle calls which were loudly cheered by the boys."

By Chuck George.

NOTC Home | Club Info | Schedule | Results | Grand Prix | Merchandise

Last updated: January 11, 2009
By: webmaster@runnotc.org